I had a potential client ask me what’s the difference between a tax preparer and a CPA. The answer is that CPA’s provide more. They must meet high educational, experience, and ethical requirements.
When I prepare your tax return, I am not just putting numbers on your return. I think about those numbers. Are we capturing all expenses? Do the expenses for this year look significantly different from last years? Is there a reason for this? Once all information has been entered, I look at the return as a whole. Is there something on the return that would be considered a red flag to the IRS? If so, I discuss that item with my client.
However, we never want not to claim a legitimate deduction just to avoid a potential IRS notice or audit. Is there anything we can do to lower your taxes?
My relationship with a client doesn’t stop when the your tax return is filed. Throughout the year, I’m available to answer your tax or accounting questions. It is better to get advice sooner than later. Some questions are simply bookkeeping items, while other questions involve the tax implications of specific income and/or expense items. I encourage my clients to ask questions.
I also recommend year-end tax planning. I’m proactive with my clients to see what we can do during the current tax year to reduce taxes, not just when we are preparing your return. The more information I have about a client’s business, the better advice I can provide that client. Because of their extensive education and background, CPA’s provide more for the client.
